Punta Gorda's airport will serve one million passengers this year -- more than 10 times Columbia's volume -- and has a larger terminal than the one under consideration if voters approve the hotel/motel tax hike.

"Lorah, you don't live here anymore so you don't know all the facts," Columbia Airport Advisory Board chairperson Greg Cecil added. "To compare where you are to Columbia is not the same. Pick a comparable airport and provide a comparison."

Steiner fired back. "It is interesting some people believe I should not comment on an issue affecting the city I called home (and where I still have family) for more than 35 years," she told Cecil.

"You, of all people should remember discussions in CVB board meetings regarding the importance of protecting the bed tax from uses that do not directly benefit tourism," Steiner continued. "The bed tax is a very tempting pot of money for politicians. Airport infrastructure should NEVER be paid for with a bed tax.

"You have opened the door to other inappropriate uses of the bed tax revenue."